TASER10

In instances when a CEW is deployed only to the extent that it is utilized in the arc mode as a warning and/or the illumination of the laser sight onto the subject, and no physical force was used in accordance with DESPP Policy, the incident shall still be reported on the Response to Resistance or Aggression/Injury or Complaint of Injury to Prisoner

The use of the CEW is authorized in situations where the subject is actively resisting a Trooper's/Police Officer's efforts to gain control of the incident, or imminently likely to do so, and where deployment of the CEW is reasonably likely to minimize the possibility of injury to the subject, all Troopers and Police Officers involved, and/or other members of the public.  The Threat Assessment and Response Management Matrix should be the guide by which Troopers and Police Officers respond to the resistance and/or aggression of all subjects. The concept of "objective reasonableness" applies in all instances where the subject's behavior requires Troopers and Police Officers to use force to gain control of the individual.

CEW TASERmeaning

“As State’s Attorney, my priority is to obtain justice fairly and equitably for everyone involved. Taking the time to review the prior administration’s ‘Do Not Call’ List and make the necessary updates to ensure accuracy is an essential step in my mission of transparency for the State’s Attorney’s Office,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “Undoubtedly, our officers put their lives on the line daily to shoulder the immense responsibility of keeping our communities safe and helping residents in need with honor and integrity. The few in uniform who gamble with the credibility of their department and the integrity of my prosecutors’ cases must be identified for the sake of accountability. I do not take the obligation of assessing the credibility of each and every witness on behalf of the state lightly, and the republishing of this list is evidence of that.”

TASER7

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates republished the “Do Not Call” (DNC) List on the Office of State’s Attorney for Baltimore City’s (BCSAO) website, building upon his continued mission to ensure a transparent and accountable city agency. The DNC List includes those police officers who have engaged in conduct that renders their potential testimony in court unreliable or non-credible.

Not every State Trooper is issued a CEW as part of their assigned equipment. Starting in 2008, recruits began training with the CEW, but they were not issued one at graduation.   Effective in 2010, with the graduation of the 121st Training Troop, recruits were issued the device prior to graduation. Currently, and throughout the history of issuing CEWs, the Office of Field Operations allocated CEWs to Troops and Units when they were available for purchase. The 2019 Annual Use of Force Report states that the Training Academy had recorded 720 CEWs being issued to Troopers.

During the 2021 Maryland Legislative Session, the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) was amended to allow prosecutors to release “Do Not Call” List information publicly. The law, known as Anton’s Law, was enacted on October 1, 2021.

The Taser X-26 and Taser X2 models are the issued approved department CEW devices.  The Taser X-26 is no longer produced and the agency will be transitioning to the Taser X2 over time.